How can my step-daughter get financial help?

DrFluffy

Does her course run at weekends? I'm sure she could find time to work - you always do when you need to. I know it's not as good as "free money", but when needs must...

Dumyat

yeah there were changes this year. our son goes this year and we had a letter recently about it. they will take in to account any income from co-habitating adults, whether or not it is your natural parent.

does the college not have someone to speak to, there must be others in the same situation.
other wise it will be a case of looking for some flexible work options. places like gumtree or agencies which do events...

The_One_Who

scot101 wrote: »

Nope - apparently is a requirement of the course. Personally I think the college is taking the mickey - they charge to accomodate horses ( we don't have one ), require the use of the horses for courses, and then have the students do the yard duties. Very lucrative!

I think she'll need to talk to the college. If she's doing all that work for free when she can't afford to live then she needs to do something. It must be negotiable to some extent. Only do mucking out a couple of times a week and get a paid job the rest of the time or something like that.

melancholly

can she put it off for a year and just work hard to save? i know that's not a great option, but is worth considering if it will be impossible for her to survive financially otherwise.

alternatively is there another college that she might be able to go to where paying for non-existant horses and things like that won't be counted?

can she cancel the self-catering halls and find something cheaper?

since she's worked for a year and not saved, and she's 19 - these are her tough decisions to make.... remember that - she hasn't helped herself by not saving anything and therefore whatever action you take will be to bail her out. obviously you want to support her in every way you can, but she needs to be coming up with solutions too - and asking parents/step-parents for more money isn't the kind of thing i'm thinking of!

scot101

Thanks to all for their comments and advice - I'm very grateful.

To answer some questions..
1. We did marry. I believe that is irrelvant now as even if we had not I would still be responsible.
2. I'm not sure how much non-paid work is expected by the college - and if there will be an option there to earn a wage.
3. Putting it off for a year might have been an option however deposits paid now for accomodation.

Melancholly - you speak some wise words. Being a step dad means I have to tread a thin line to ensure I don't alienate the girl yet not give her everything on a plate.

I do like the idea that if I move out for a while things would be different.. even if it weren't I could return to my bachelor days!! .... then again perhaps not!

Thanks all again

The_One_Who

Find out how much unpaid work the college expects, it shouldn't be so much as to prevent the students working elsewhere. Try and find other stables nearby who might be willing to pay for her services? That way she is getting experience as well as a wage.